Auction Saturday for Fairgrove Resource Center

Terri Nelson, executive director of Fairgrove Family Resource Center, stands with some of the items available at Saturday’s auction.

THOMASVILLE —

Fairgrove Family Resource Center's biggest fundraiser of the year couldn't come at a better time.

With the agency assisting more than 100 people pay bills while giving away thousands of pounds of food, the Center is stretching its already limited resources to the max. Saturday's annual auction will play a vital role to help the nonprofit meet needs in the Chair City.

"We're swamped," said Executive Director Terri Nelson. "We really need help with this. People need to understand that in order for us to stay open, we have to have support for our programs."

In 2013, Nelson said the agency has provided $17,163 worth of emergency assistance to 129 people, helping pay utility bills and mortgage payments for struggling families. FFRC distributed 23,000 pounds of food in January alone, after giving away 212,528 pounds in 2012.

"We are slammed to put it mildly," Nelson said. "We really need this auction to go well. The money we make from fundraisers allows us to cover expenses we can't get from grants. It helps us provide these vital programs."

The ninth annual auction begins at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at 159 Myrtle Drive. Some of the items available include a microwave, furniture, gift baskets, fishing rods, Wake Forest basketball and football tickets, jewelry, baby accessories and paintings.

"We obviously lean on businesses for support but we also can't have an auction without people coming here to bid on the wonderful items we have," said Nelson. "It's critical to our community."

Nelson said the auction is the largest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds enable the agency to offer assistance such as the backpack program, which provides weekend food for 194 students at Pilot Elementary, Thomasville Primary, Fair Grove Elementary and Brier Creek Elementary schools. Seasonal programs Fill the Bus and Gifts from the Heart help collect school supplies and Christmas presents for underprivileged children every year, and rely solely on community donations.Local Elvis Presley impersonator Gary Nance will serve as the auctioneer. All donations are tax deductible. For more information, call 472-7217.